Biochemistry : Identification by Structure

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Identifying Specific Nucleic Acid Structures

Identify the nucleobase.

Thymine

Possible Answers:

Uracil

Guanine

Adenine

Cytosine

Thymine

Correct answer:

Thymine

Explanation:

The structure represent thymine because of the characteristic carbonyl groups at both carbons 2 and 4 and the methyl group at carbon 5.

Example Question #2 : Identifying Specific Nucleic Acid Structures

Identify the nucleobase.

Uracil

Possible Answers:

Guanine

Uracil

Cytosine

Thymine

Adenine

Correct answer:

Uracil

Explanation:

The structure represents uracil because of the carbonyl groups attached to both carbons 2 and 4 and the lack of any other substituents.

Example Question #1 : Identifying Specific Nucleic Acid Structures

Identify the nucleobase. 

Cytosine

Possible Answers:

Uracil

Thymine

Cytosine

Guanine

Adenine

Correct answer:

Cytosine

Explanation:

The structure represents cytosine because of the characteristic amine group on carbon 4, instead of the carbonyl group that is present on carbon 4 of both thymine and uracil.

Example Question #4 : Identifying Specific Nucleic Acid Structures

Which of the following are considered pyrimidines?

I: adenine

II: thymine

III: cytosine

IV: guanine

Possible Answers:

II and III

III and IV

I and II

I and IV

I and III

Correct answer:

II and III

Explanation:

Pyrimidines are nitrogenous bases with 1 ring structure, whereas purines are nitrogenous bases with 2 ring structures. Cytosine and thymine are pyrimidines since they both have one ring structure, whereas adenine and guanine are purines with two connected ring structures. (Note: in RNA, uracil would be considered a pyrimidine in the place of thymine.) One way to help you remember which bases belong to which chemical groups, remember that pyrimidines, like pyramids are sharp, and sharp things CUT - Cytosine, Uracil, and Thymine.

Example Question #5 : Identifying Specific Nucleic Acid Structures

Pyrimidine and purine

Name the given ring systems and determine whether they are soluble or insoluble.

Possible Answers:

Amine ring; insoluble

Pyrimidine ring; purine ring; insoluble

Pyrimidine ring; purine ring; soluble

Purine ring; pyrimidine ring; insoluble

Cytosine; adenine,; soluble

Correct answer:

Pyrimidine ring; purine ring; insoluble

Explanation:

The six-membered ring is a pyrimidine. The purine ring system has two rings: a six-membered and a five-membered ring. These aromatic rings are hydrophobic, making them relatively insoluble. The pyrimidine bases in nucleotides are cytosine, uracil, and thymine; the purine bases in nucleotides are adenine and guanine.

Example Question #341 : Biochemistry

Cytosine

What is the name of the molecule shown?

Possible Answers:

Cytosine

Uracil

Pyrimidine

Thymine

Cytidine

Correct answer:

Cytosine

Explanation:

A nucleoside is the nitrogenous base bound to a sugar via glycosidic bond. A nucleotide is a nitrogenous base bonded to a sugar bonded to the phosphate. This nitrogenous base is cytosine. If it were bound to ribose, it would be called cytidine. Although cytosine is a pyrimidine like uracil and thymine, pyrimidine is a class of ring structure, not the specific name of a base. 

Example Question #6 : Identifying Specific Nucleic Acid Structures

Adenosine

Identify the given nucleotide, nucleoside or nitrogenous base.

Possible Answers:

Adenosine

Purine

Adenine

Guanine

Guanosine

Correct answer:

Adenosine

Explanation:

While adenine is the name of this nitrogenous base of the purine family, when bonded to ribose, a nucleoside is formed. This nucleoside is called adenosine. A nucleoside consists of a nitrogenous base and a pentose sugar (either ribose or deoxyribose). A nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and at least one phosphate group.

Example Question #2 : Identifying Specific Nucleic Acid Structures

Guanosine monophosphate

Identify the given nucleotide, nucleoside or nitrogenous base.

Possible Answers:

Guanine phosphate

Guanosine-5-monophosphate

Guanosine phosphate

Guanosine monophosphate

Guanine monophosphate

Correct answer:

Guanosine-5-monophosphate

Explanation:

When the guanine base is bound to a sugar, it becomes a nucleoside and takes the name guanosine. The 5' indicates that the phosphate is bound to the fifth carbon from the glycosidic bond, linking the base and sugar. Monophosphate indicates that only one phosphate group is bound. Up to three phosphate groups are be bound biologically.

Example Question #71 : Identification By Structure

Uracil

Identify the given nucleotide, nucleoside or nitrogenous base.

Possible Answers:

Uridine

Uracine

Thymine

Uracil

Thymidine

Correct answer:

Uracil

Explanation:

This is an image of the nitrogenous base uracil. Although very similar to the structure of thymine, they differ by a methyl group at the fifth carbon. (Start counting at the nitrogen at the bottom of the structure and count clockwise). If the uracil were bound to a sugar, it would be uridine.

Example Question #71 : Identification By Structure

Adenine

Identify the given nucleotide, nucleoside or nitrogenous base.

Possible Answers:

Guanosine

Guanine

Purine

Adenosine

Adenine

Correct answer:

Adenine

Explanation:

This nitrogenous base is adenine. Although it has a purine ring system, purine is not its specific name. If the adenine were bound to a sugar, it would be called adenosine.

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